Reading lamp



F. FREY READING LAMP Dec. 14, 1943.

Filed June 27, 194i INVENTOR Fran Frey 7%) ATTOR N EY Patented Dec. 14, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE READING LAMP Fran Frey, Los Angeles, Calif. Application June 27, 1941, Serial No. 400,001

4 Claims.

This invention relates to electric reading lights.

This application is a continuation in part of an application filed on January i, 1939, in the name of Fran Frey, under Serial No. 249,179, and entitled Reading lamps.

Reading lamps used for reading in bed have been heretofore provided in such manner that the headboard serves to support the lamp in visible position at all times. Often the bedstead however is of such nature as to render the affixing of the lamp by any support that straddles the headboard impracticable; and in addition, the resultant elTeCt is unsightly. It is one of the objects of this invention to make it possible to obviate these disadvantages, and especially by the aid of a simple structure making it possible to conceal the lamp when not in use, behind the headboard, and yet to position the lamp in a convenient manner over an intermediate portion of the headboard. All this is accomplished even when the headboard is placed quite close to the wall.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reading hght particularly adapted for mounting on the headboard of a bed or the like, wherein the lamp is so supported as to be optionally arranged in a raised position for use, or to be lowered out of sight when not required.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a light with an automatic switch for ensuring that the lamp is automatically deenergized when it is lowered to the concealed position.

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose there is shown a form in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the present specification. This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of this invention is best defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation, partly in section, showing the lamp installed on a headboard and in reading position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view but on a reduced scale showing the lamp in its alternate or inactive position; and

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are enlarged detail sections, as seen on the correspondingly numbered planes of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 being partly broken away to reduce the size of the figure.

In the rear View of Fig. 1, a lamp globe 5 is shown as being elevated above the top edge 4 of a headboard in position for reading. This globe is shown in this instance as of the candle variety, having a relatively small diameter of the order of of an inch and having an axis substantially transverse to the bed. Lamp 5 may have a portion of its inner surface silvered to direct the illumination in a desired direction, or it may be equipped with a shade B of any desired type. Lamp globe 5 is so supported that it may be optionally placed above the headboard, suitable position for use (Fig. 1) or behind the headboard 3 where the entire assembly is substantially concealed. When in the position of Fig. 1, the lamp globe 5 is disposed intermediate the sides of the bed and in effective position for reading.

The manner in which the globe 5 is adjus-tably supported will now be described. A bracket it, which may conveniently be formed of a rectanhas an arm I pivotally secured thereto, as by a shouldered rivet H (Fig. 4), and has integral lugs or stops l2 and I3 formed thereon, as by being partially severed from the plate and bent to project from it (see Fig. 5).

Bracket i0 is adapted to be secured against the rear surface of headboard 3 by means of a clamping strap l4 (Figs. 1 and 3) at an intermediate point between the sides of the headboard. Strap M is pivotally secured between a pair of lugs or ears l5 (which may conveniently be formed integrally with plate [0 in an analogous manner to lugs 12 and i3) by a pin l6. [4 has an arm ll, arranged to extend across the top 0 of headboard 3, with a depending end portion l8 adapted to engage the face of the headboard (see Fig. 3). Strap l4 threadedly carries a thumb screw 20.

The application of bracket E0 to headboard 3 is simple. The bracket I ll is merely slipped down until extension I! rests on the top 4 of the headboard. Then by appropriately manipulating screw 20, the headboard is clamped between bracket l0 and the end l8 of the strap l4. By loosening screw 20, bracket l0 may be readily removed when desired. To me.

the bracket ill to the headboard, screws 24 accommodated in openings 25 in the bracket may be used (see Figs. 2 and 4 In this case, thumb screw 20 is preferably, but not necessarily, removed from strap I4, and the strap hangs downwardly, as indicated by the dotted lines of Fig. 3, and as indicated in Fig. 2.

Arm I has a straight main portion 21 which extends a substantial part of its length from the pivot 2 and terminates in an end portion 28, disposed at right angles to the main portion 21 and joined thereto by a twisted and offset portion 29. A conventional lamp socket 30 is attached to the end 28 of arm I, as by aid of the threaded neck 3I of socket 30, which extends through a suitable opening in the arm, and receiving a nut 32 thereon. Socket 30 carries lamp globe 5, the arrangement being such that the axis of the lamp and of the socket is substantially parallel to the headboard 3, and transverse to the axis arm I as well as to the axis of the pivot II. The socket is spaced from the back of the headboard, and preferably is of that type incorporating a switch, the switch being operable as by transverse push rod 33.

Leads 34 and 35 for lamp extend along arm I, and are secured in place thereon by eyelets 35. These leads connect with a gravity switch 31 which is detachably mounted on arm I in any convenient manner, as for example by being clipped between the fingers 38 of a spring saddle 39 (Fig. 4). Leads 40 extend from switch 31 and provide means for connecting the switch with a suitable source of power. The automatic switch 31 is omitted from Fig. 1.

Switch 31 is arranged to break the circuit leading to lamp globe 5 whenever arm I departs substantially from the vertical position of Fig. 1. This ensures that the lamp will not be burning when in the concealed position of Fig. 2. This switch may be of any suitable type, for instance one utilizing a mass of mercury to form a circuit between a pair of contacts. Such switches are well known.

The operation of the lamp may now be described. The bracket Iii is secured on the headboard 3 so that its long dimension is approximately horizontal. When it is desired to use the light, arm I is swung about its pivot 2 to engage upper stop I2. The center of gravity of the arm I and attached parts, such as lamp 5 etc. falls to the right of pivot 2, as viewed in Fig. 1. Thus, the weight of these parts urges the arm I against stop I2, ensuring that the arm retains its vertical position. To increase the effectiveness of this action, it may be desirable to locate stop I2 so that arm I has a slight inclination to the right of the vertical, as illustrated. In this position, the lamp globe 5 is above the headboard 3.

With arm I vertical, switch 31 is closed and lamp 5 may be controlled as desired by push rod 33. When the light is no longer needed, arm I may be swung counterclockwise until it engages stop I3, assuming the position of Fig. 2. In this position, arm I, shade 6, lamp 5, etc. are all concealed behind the headboard 3. Also, the switch 31 is opened, breaking the circuit to lamp 5.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bed reading lamp, a support adapted to be attached in the rear of the headboard of a bed, an arm pivotally mounted on said support and upon an axis transverse to the headboard, a lamp socket carried by the arm adjacent its free extremity, and in such position that the socket axis is transverse to the arm, as well as to the axis of the arm pivot, the support and the arm being so arranged that the socket may be optionally placed, by appropriate pivotal positioning of the arm, in an elevated position above the headboard, or in a concealed position behind the headboard, and an automatic switch controlling energization of the lamp and operating to disconnect the lamp in response to movement of the socket behind the headboard.

2. In a reading light, a bracket adapted to be mounted on the rear side of the headboard of a bed or the like, an arm pivoted on the bracket, said arm having an ofiset intermediate portion and being arranged to support a shaded lamp at its free end, the axis of said lamp being parallel with and spaced from the rear of the headboard, and means forming stops on the bracket to limit the swing of said arm about its pivot, one stop serving to position the arm with the lamp above the headboard, the other stop positioning the arm and lamp entirely behind the headboard.

3. In a reading light, a bracekt adapted to be mounted on the rear side of the headboard of a bed or the like, an arm pivoted on the bracket, said arm having an offset intermediate portion and being arranged to support a shaded lamp at its free end, the axis of said lamp being parallel with and spaced from the rear of the headboard, and means forming stops on the bracket to limit the swing of said arm about its pivot, one stop serving to position the arm with the lamp above the headboard, the other stop positioning the arm and lamp entirely behind the headboard, said first mentioned stop being so positioned that the weight of the arm and attached parts is effective to maintain the arm substantially vertical and against said stop.

4. In a reading light, a bracket adapted to be mounted on the rear side of the headboard of a bed or the like, an arm pivoted on the bracket, said arm having an offset intermediate portion and being arranged to support a shaded lamp at its free end, the axis of said lamp being parallel with and spaced from the rear of the headboard, means forming stops on the bracket to limit the swing of said arm about its pivot, one stop serving to position the arm with the lamp above the headboard, the other stop positioning the arm and lamp entirely behind the headboard, and a gravity switch mounted on said arm and arranged to control the energization of said lamp in accordance with the position of said arm.

FRAN FREY. 

